AT507345B1 - COFFEE CAPSULE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a reusable capsule (100) in various types, shapes and fixings and for various beverage preparation machines for the preparation of hot drinks, such as coffee, milk, cocoa, tea or lemonade with one, one with the respective mentioned beverage powder or concentrate (5) fillable receiving space having cup-like - capsule (2) and an upper, edge (20) pressure fluid sealing final, cap-like capsule shell (3) can be inserted, both parts (2, 3) from a pressurized, preferably mehrpunktuell, mechanically pierceable Material, are formed. The reusable capsule is characterized in that the upper part (3) - before the pressure leaching of the previously introduced contents (5) of the capsule lower part (2) by means of hot water - with the lower part of the capsule (2) over the upper edge zone (20) pressure fluid tight , but releasably, has been connected, and that after piercing capsule top Part (3), and / or also capsule lower part (2), and pressure leaching of the capsule contents (5) of the capsule upper part (3) of the capsule lower part (2) detachably and by an intact capsule upper part (3) replaceable and the capsule bottom part used several times (2 ) Each time again pressure fluid-tight sealing is formed.

Description

Austrian Patent Office AT507 345B1 2010-12-15

Description [0001] The present invention relates to reusable coffee and other beverage capsules that are universally applicable, the capsules being available in various sizes and designs for different coffee machines of individual manufacturer brands and designs, according to the preamble of claim 1.

This invention relates generally to reusable coffee capsules of the same or similar type and similar in size and design and / or similar cocoa, tea, milk and beverage capsules and other dry or nas-se / liquid fillings small beverage capsules / containers instead of the same or similar prefabricated small disposable coffee and beverage capsules available on the market, each of which is intended and manufactured by itself only for a particular brand of coffee maker or manufacturer, and only functions therewith.

The well-known prefabricated coffee or beverage capsules, filled with a particular brand product, are introduced into the small chambers of the coffee or hot beverage machines, which are made to fit the dimensions and shape and design of the capsules, and properly fixed or placed there , Then the chamber is locked by means of a bolt handle and the machine is turned on, the cold water that comes from the water tank of the unit, heated and by the pressure of the resulting vapor it penetrates with several bar pressure, depending on the machine or coffee machine and system eg with about 14 bar for plastic capsules and about 19 bar for metal capsules, quickly through built-in nozzle heads (Nozzles) in the respective capsule. The superheated water is released within seconds by contents of the capsules, e.g. is mixed by the coffee powder to the other part of the capsule, which was also perforated by pressure simultaneously with a built-in, spiky lancing instrument instrument, and the hot coffee or beverage extract is from the other end of the capsule through a channel in the coffee cup or in a beverage glass converted.

The amount of water for one or more coffee cups or glasses depends on the system of the coffee machine or pressure hot beverage machine and also whether it is operated manually or automatically.

The capsules are usually - to facilitate the passage of pressurized hot water through the capsules - after switching on the coffee maker or the beverage preparation device at both ends of the capsule perforated, punctured or holes with at least one hole or usually with several holes.

The prefabricated and sealed capsules / containers of coffee, and / or beverage powder fillings, in various sizes and designs of plastics and / or metal, such as aluminum foil) and / or combined materials with or without filters, with or without paint, with or without inner gasket (eg, silicone or plastic) where perforation is made, and are resistant to high water and vapor pressure and high temperatures.

The coffee capsules are made by international well-known coffee and beverage manufacturers and product brands to the machine manufacturer so that fit to any other similar brands and therefore can not work there.

In addition, such prefabricated coffee or beverage capsules are manufactured as disposable products because of the intended product sales quantities. Only capsules with your own coffee, eg. Coffee powders made with certain but limited proprietary roasting techniques and blends may be used in one or more coffee makers of one manufacturer or group of manufacturers.

The main disadvantages of the prefabricated and non-reusable coffee and beverage capsules are as follows: High energy consumption for the production of often hundreds of millions of coffee or beverage capsules as well as the only to these matching coffee machines in various shapes and designs and brands.

Thousands of tons of new extra waste (ie, such capsules) fall as mixed packaging waste, e.g. due to plastic and metal combination - often including content (powder residues) - worldwide.

There are ultimately tens of thousands of tons of electrical equipment waste and hazardous waste caused by the machines of various brands, by their electronic parts, cables, metals, glasses, mixed chemicals, etc., worldwide.

In this way, an unnecessary increase in C02 and environmental and climate problems occurs.

There are high extra costs for recycling, environmentally friendly disposal and recycling of electrical waste of the machinery and waste plastic or metal of capsules or bags worldwide. Hiebei energy-saving special waste separation machines, separate landfills, personnel and transport costs and air and environmental pollution must be considered.

The disposable beverage and coffee / tea / milk capsules can always be used only in one type of coffee or beverage machines.

The consumers can not use their own or any coffee and beverage varieties on the popular machines and its capsules, which is in itself intention of the manufacturer, it is forcibly always only a certain product brand with certain matched devices and Capsules can be used.

These monopole products, e.g. Canned coffee, tea, milk, cocoa, etc. are always just a few types of coffee, tea, milk or cocoa, and are not always to the taste of the consumer.

Often, the beverage preparation devices and coffee machines may be offered under the production cost to make consumers dependent on their own coffee and beverage varieties, since just fit the brand's capsules in these machines and of course not refillable are.

Flooding the markets of disposable products and devices with only a single consumption dimension.

Competing competitors by the manufacturer, forcibly binding customers and consumers after only one use of each capsule for a cup of coffee, etc., which is not refillable and therefore must be disposed of as household waste.

Completely clear advantages of reusable coffee and beverage capsules and the repeated use of the aforementioned prefabricated capsules are environmental and climate friendliness, reducing global energy consumption and waste problems, reducing the consumption of raw materials and materials, etc.

As regards the state of the art in the field of reusable hot beverage capsules, the following is to be stated: FR 2905683 discloses reusable, two-part coffee capsules in which, however, the upper part thereof is only one piece and in which the cover sheet already exists , So predefined perforation is integrated. The figures of this document clearly show that the local construction necessarily requires a separate, apparently relatively difficult to use top-dissolving or assembly device, which in any case represents a possible avoidable complication for the user. In addition, it appears that it is necessary to place this capsule in an exact position relative to the perforation in the cover sheet in the coffee-making machine. [0024] DE 20 2005 004 246 U1 discloses reusable coffee pads which are not coffee capsules per se. The lid provided there has predetermined holes from the outset.

The capsule according to DE 1404799 A1 is intended for the preparation of whitened coffee. Accordingly, there is provided a porous intermediate foil. The cover foil is here welded to the upper rim of the capsule, this is not a reusable coffee capsule.

Also in the refill capsule for Krups "Dolce Gusto" coffee machines according to DE 10 2007 028 674 A1, the lid to be screwed onto the capsule itself is reusable and also has from the outset a predetermined hole for introducing the pressurized hot water.

Thus, it has none of the coffee capsules known from the cited documents a structure in which per beverage preparation, a new cover sheet is used, which is discarded after each preparation of the beverage.

The object of the invention has been found on the one hand to reduce the current one-way, packaging and monopoly product structure in the said area and the problems resulting from it and to give consumers the opportunity to their own and years of customary coffee - to use tea, cocoa and other types of beverages, which are available almost everywhere, on their monopoly coffee machines and to protect the environment and climate or to make an important contribution and on the other hand ensure that neither a cover sheet is to be used , which is pierced from the outset, nor that when inserting the same in the beverage preparation machine is always pay attention to an exact positioning of the capsule to avoid additional punctures that very quickly lead to the destruction of said film and thus the use of a new beverage preparation capsule would require.

The invention thus relates to a reusable as mentioned above, adapted to a respective existing hot beverage preparation machine shaped capsule for the preparation of hot drinks, which has the features mentioned in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The essential advantage of the invention is the reusability of the capsules: It can be used only by emptying a disposable coffee capsule already used by refilling with any coffee at least several times, as explained below, again.

This substantially reduces the need for the production of new disposable capsules, since one capsule can be used repeatedly on different types of coffee, tea and / or milk repeatedly on a respective beverage preparation machine.

This means: little waste in the final phase and lower energy consumption for the production of capsules.

The procedure for a simple re-use and retrofitting of the original non-reusable capsule, ie disposable capsule, is the following: emptying of the capsules used after removal of the perforated after use of the capsule shell of the lid or top of the capsules.

(A) washing or possibly only clean emptying of the contents of the capsule.

(B) filling the capsule with the respective desired coffee, tea and / or milk powder.

Covering the capsule base, e.g. with a cut, simple kitchen foil, which is some millimeters larger than the capsule lid and close the foil after filling the capsule to its outer wall. Then, the new capsule can be used just like a previous disposable capsule on the same coffee or hot beverage machine and this several times after the same procedure, after placing the capsule in the pressure chamber when punching the film, eg by means of the hand lever, the film is pressed with high pressure to the capsule and so pressure fluid-tight connected to the same.

With the closing film, in particular aluminum foil, the refilled coffee or beverage powder in the closed capsule chamber from the newly filled capsule will not escape because after fitting and fixing the capsule in the pressure chamber of the machine by means of the steam printer, the drink only by the small Perforation points of the capsule in the hot beverage outflow channel, eg is pressed out into the coffee cup.

In order to achieve better results, the capsules, e.g. in Fig. 14, precisely locate and position the perforated dots in the bottom of the capsule, e.g. for capsules with 3 holes. In order to avoid further or several newly pierced holes in the lower part of the capsule, one can observe the arrangement of these holes and the perforation in the capsule chamber and precisely position the holes, e.g. Place filled capsules up in the capsule chamber. As a result, when the capsule chamber is closed and / or the coffee machine is switched on, the spiked-carrying instrument will penetrate into the capsule chamber into the previously perforated or perforated openings. As few as possible further holes in the capsule lower part are of course optimal for a multiple reuse of the capsules.

Basically, the process in the hot beverage capsule according to the invention is similar, but according to the invention, a new type of such reusable coffee, tea, milk or beverage capsules, each suitable for each variant of coffee machine, which are produced only for specific capsules per se, provided: [0043] For example In FIGS. 1 and 2a, 2b, the known capsules in any case have two parts, namely an upper part, ie cover, and a lower part, that is to say the powder container.

The upper part of the capsules according to the invention consists of a ring-like cover frame as a second lower part without a film, see Figs. 3 and 9 or is with prefabricated or new beaded applied film on the capsule, see, e.g. Fig. 5, made of plastic and / or a metal material, e.g. of thinner or stronger aluminum foil, such as the original disposable capsule with or without inner bottom seal, e.g. made of silicone and / or with mixed or combined materials depending on the coffee machine system and its vapor pressure.

The capsules according to the invention are of course designed similar to the original capsules of the various coffee machines. The reusable capsules must fit into the pressure chambers of the coffee machines, ie ultimately the same dimensions and shapes as the original, pre-made disposable capsules and made of resistant materials, ie plastic and / or metal material, e.g. made of aluminum, manufactured and resistant to atmospheric and atmospheric pressure, and temperature resistant.

The lower part of the capsules, see e.g. Fig. 1 is provided for refilling with coffee powder or other beverage powders and the fixation or fixed connection with the upper part of the capsule, see Figs. 3 and 9, by covering with the film and its contact pressure on the lower part by means of the hot drinks Preparation machine generated pressing pressure.

After filling the lower part of the capsule with any coffee, cocoa powder or the like., The lower part, see Fig. 3 and 4 with the upper part of the capsule, so lid ring, completely covered with a cut to size aluminum foil / covered, and fixed and then turn the two parts connected together by the ring-like cover frame is placed, see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2b, ie in particular by pressing beading and ultimately by the sealing pressing in the pressure chamber of the machine itself.

The two parts, ie upper part or lid or second lower part and lower part / container, of the reusable capsules according to the invention with prepared lid ring and container which can be rewritten and reused several times The different forms and designs are fixed together.

This may e.g. with internal or external screw threads, such as female-male, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9, or e.g. with at least 2 small buttons projecting externally from the capsule second base, e.g. small raised hemisphere heads / male, see Fig. 4 and 10, with in "L" shape slots in the lower part as a rotational fixation, so about bayonet-like nested and snapped, see Fig. 5 and 11 or, see Fig. 12, with a capsule with lower part as a container for the beverage powder and with the same articulated connected, so foldable second lower part and between these parts clamped film done.

In this way, a finished reusable and environmentally friendly coffee, tea and or beverage capsule for use in original hot drinks, especially coffee (preparation) machines is created.

It is important that in manufacturing and / or joining the parts of the two-part capsules for further use in all forms no obstruction in the capsule chamber of the coffee machines, and that no design change of the capsules, e.g. by the screw threads, see Figs. 3, 9, and / or by the " L " shape fixation, see Figs. 5, 11, or by the foldable embodiment.

There is also the provision of prefabricated second subparts of the capsule with lid foil, see e.g. Fig. 5, and the lower parts of the capsules instead of only a second lower part of the capsule without aluminum foil, Fig. 3 and 9, each time with renewed use of the capsule, for. Manual with aluminum foil must be covered, in question.

Because of their environmental friendliness and their low material and energy consumption, the new reusable capsules represent an important step for environmental and climate protection, and in addition a new consumer and manufacturer culture without monopolization of markets and consumers is created.

The claims 2 to 7 each disclose various embodiments of the new beverage, in particular coffee capsule in the context of the invention.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing: FIG. 2a shows a known simple form of a commercially available coffee capsule, FIG. 2b shows this capsule with a half-open lidding film and FIG. 1 shows this capsule with its capsule over its edge Cover film, so the simplest way of reusing commercial coffee capsules, which is not the subject of the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows a capsule according to the invention with screwing of the second upper part, Fig. 4 shows a capsule with input or Umklemmung the lid, Fig. 5 shows a capsule with a bayonet-like lockable cover ring and Fig. 6 in general a bottom view of a lower part of the capsules according to the previously mentioned figures with only one or a Perforierungsstelle or -loch.

7 to 12 - with otherwise constant reference numerals - to analogous embodiments of reusable capsules, namely Fig. 8a the already known simplest form, Fig. 8b, the half-opened capsule and Fig. 7, the capsule in the reuse state.

9 shows a capsule with a screw cap, Fig. 10 with a Umklemmung the Foliendeckels, Fig. 11 such with a bayonet closure and Fig. 12 shows a reusable capsule with hinged lid ring as a capsule shell with whose help the top film can be pinched.

Finally, FIGS. 13 and 14 show the manner of perforating the upper part and the lower part of the reusable capsule according to FIGS. 7 to 12.

The capsule 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, which has conventionally been used, thus has a cup-shaped lower part 2 which after use is removed from the leached coffee powder 5, e.g. is freed by washing. For reuse, a lidding film 30, which may be a conventional kitchen-aluminum foil, is pulled all around over the circular upper edge 20 of the capsule lower part 2 and flanged over there around it as the upper part 3. In the simplest case, not belonging to the invention, this ensemble is then inserted into the coffee-making machine, where the coffee is leached out. The perforated lid 3 is released after coffee preparation. The little or even only once perforated capsule base 2 is washed out again, then filled with new coffee 5 or other beverage powder, and then a new lidding film 30 is pulled over the upper edge 21 of the lower part 2 and there around the outside of the Bottom part 2 pressed and clamped in the hot beverage preparation machine.

The inventive reusable coffee capsule according to the invention shown in FIG. 3 has a correspondingly shaped cup-shaped lower part 2, only a screw thread 23 is arranged according to a first embodiment at its upper edge 20 outside. On this screw thread 23 is a ring-like, here a round outwardly projecting annular projection 41 having, second lower part 4 with an internal thread 43 on the downwardly projecting annular member 45 can be screwed. About the upper edge 21 of the lower part of the upper lid forming a film 3 can be placed and about the same umbördelbar, then for the coffee or beverage preparation, the pressurized fluid-tight entrapment of the lidding film 30 between the two screw threads 23 and 43, and the so prepared new capsule can be used in the coffee machine.

A similar type of construction according to the invention is shown in FIG. 4: There, the annular second lower part 4 is formed so that it can sit around the same encompassing and fluid-tight in the region of the upper edge 21 of the capsule lower part 2 and that with its downwardly projecting portion 45, the capsule upper part 3 forming film 30 between the inside of the second base 4 and the outside of the lower part 2 pressure fluid sealing clamped, where there are several inwardly projecting, knob-like projections 42 on the second lower part 4, respectively snap into correspondingly shaped indentations 22 in the vicinity of the upper edge of the lower part 2.

In the capsule 100 according to FIG. 5, approximately L-shaped notches 22 are made in the upper edge 21 of the capsule lower part 2, in which corresponding projections or lugs 42 of the lower part 2 can be placed, a downwardly projecting part 45 having second -Unterteil ringes 4 with the same top edge-beading cover (= upper part) 3 are mounted bayonet-like, which ultimately again a pressure-tight closure between the lower and upper part 2, 3 is achieved.

Fig. 6 shows, seen from below, one of the lower part wells 2 with only one perforation 29, which is so small that practically no refilled coarser coffee powder can penetrate through the same.

A e.g. now differently shaped reusable capsule 100 according to FIGS. 8a, 8b and 7 is - with otherwise constant reference numerals - formed in the same way as the capsule 100 according to FIGS. 2a, 2b and 1, it is, as stated there, not formed according to the invention.

The capsule 100 as shown in FIG. 9 is formed with screw threads 23, 43, analogously to the capsule 100 of FIG. 3, with otherwise identical reference numerals.

The capsule 100 of FIG. 10 corresponds - with otherwise constant reference numerals meaning - the capsule 100 shown in FIG. 4.

The capsule 100 according to FIG. 11 is constructed in an analogous manner to the capsule 100 of FIG. 5-with otherwise identical reference numerals meaning.

12 shows, by way of example, a hinged capsule 100 with a joint 240 between the capsule lower part 2 and the second capsule lower part 4, wherein an interchangeable cover 3 foil 30 can be clamped between these capsule parts 2, 4. 6.10

Claims (7)

Finally, FIG. 13 shows a bottom view of the capsule lower part 2 of a used, reusable coffee capsule with here 3 small perforations 29 and FIG. 14 shows a plan view of the capsule upper part 3 and FIG 39. Claims 1. Reusable, adapted to a respective hot beverage preparation machine shaped capsule (100) for the preparation of hot drinks, in particular of coffee, milk coffee, milk, cocoa, tea, lemonade od the like - by means of hot water and steam under pressure, in particular coffee, latte coffee; Milk, cocoa, tea, lemonade or the like, with a - a with the respective beverage powder or concentrate (5) filled or refillable receiving space having cup-like - capsule lower part (2) and an upper, preferably circular , Edge (20) of its opening pressure fluid sealing final cover sheet (3) is designed as a capsule upper part (34), wherein the parts (2, 34) from a pressurized, optionally mehrpunktuell, mechanically pierceable material, such as in particular metal and / or plastic, are formed, characterized in that the capsule upper part (34) as an annular, the circular upper edge of the capsule lower part (2) corresponding course having, releasably connectable with the same, either itself with an upper opening (46) covering, at its edge all around bound, each only once usable cover sheet (3) or equipped for an annular closed Um- or entrapment of a l last for the upper opening (20) of the capsule lower part (2) covering the conclusion of its - each of the ingested hot beverage base material (5) receiving - interior provided, even a perforation accessible cover sheet (3) made of a heat-resistant plastic or Metal between itself and the capsule lower part (2) provided ring upper part (4) is formed. 2. Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover film (3) of the capsule upper part (34) flat cover-like all around the upper, in particular circular, edge (21) or edge projection (45) of the capsule -Unterteil (2) pressure-fluid-tight connectable ring upper part (4) crimped down and pulled, or inverted and between the capsule lower part (2) and capsule upper part (4) can be clamped. 3. Capsule according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cup-like capsule lower part (2) in the vicinity of its upper circular edge (21) is formed externally or internally with a screw thread (23) and that the ring upper part (4). is designed as a correspondingly formed cover ring with all around downwardly projecting edge projection (45) with there arranged internally or externally counter-screw thread (43), vorertertweise provided that after border-encompassendem covering the opening (20) of the capsule lower part (2) or the lower opening (40) of the ring upper part (4) with the cover film (3) the same between the ring upper part (4) and the capsule lower part (2) pressure fluid-tight clamping on or in the capsule lower part ( 2) can be screwed on or screwed in pressure fluid-tight manner. (Figures 2, 5) 4. Capsule according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cup-like capsule lower part (2) at its upper edge (21) at least two, in particular three, substantially L-shaped cuts (22), in which corresponding, according to outwardly projecting projections, lugs or pins (32) on the all around downwardly projecting edge projection (45) of the ring upper part (4), preferably after border-encompassing covering the opening (20) of the capsule lower part (2) or the lower Opening (40) of the ring upper part (4) with the cover film (3) the same between the ring upper part (4) and the capsule lower part (2) pressure fluid sealing entrapping, bayonet-like suspension. (Fig. 1, 4) 7/10 Austrian Patent Office AT507 345B1 2010-12-15 5. Capsule according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the capsule lower part (2) in the vicinity of its upper edge (21) has a plurality of indentations (22 ') and the annular upper part (4) at its downwardly projecting edge projection (45) has correspondingly arranged projections (42) which can be snapped into said recesses (22 '), wherein it is preferably provided that after covering the opening (20) of the capsule lower part (2) or the lower opening (40) of the ring upper part (4) with the cover film (3) the same between the ring top (4) and the capsule lower part (2) pressure fluid sealing entrapping pressure fluid sealing snap is. (FIGS. 3, 6) 6. Capsule according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the capsule lower part (2) with the ring upper part (4) by means of hinge (240) is connected and formed foldable, wherein it is preferably provided that after border-encompassing covering the opening (20) of the capsule lower part (2) or the lower opening (40) of the ring upper part (4) with the cover film (3) the same between the ring top (4) and the capsule lower part (2) pressure fluid sealing is trapped. (Fig. 7) 7. A method for refilling and reusing a hot beverage capsule (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the capsule lower part (2) the beverage powder or concentrate (5) is introduced, that either one fresh Cover film (3) under cover of the opening (20) of the capsule lower part (2) or the opening (40) of the ring upper part (4) in a single-glass around the upper edge (21) of the capsule lower part (2) or pulled over the lower edge (41) of the annular upper part (4) and in the region of the upper edge (21) of the capsule lower part (2) on or against the inside of the capsule lower part (2) by means of the fitting Upper part (4) all around downwardly projecting edge-overhang (45) to the outside or to the inside of the capsule lower part (2) under clamping of the cover sheet (3) pressure fluid sealing fitting is pressed, or that when using a substantially only once using ring top (4 ) with an upper opening (46) covering and at the edge completely bound cover sheet (3) of this ring top (4) with its edge projection (45) to the capsule lower part (2) pressure fluid sealing fitting is pressed. For this 2 sheet drawings 8/10